’Red Dead’ dominates Game Developer Choice Awards

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — “Red Dead Redemption” lassoed the most trophies at the Game Developers Choice Awards.

The open-world Wild West action-adventure game developed by Rockstar Games corralled four awards, including game of the year, at the Game Developers Conference ceremony Wednesday evening. “Red Dead Redemption,” which casts players in the role of a former outlaw who is tasked to bring down his former gang, was also honored for best game design, technology and audio.

“This game was a product of a lot of people who worked extremely hard with a lot of passion,” said Rockstar San Diego studio manager Steve Martin.

“Minecraft,” the blocky sandbox game from Swedish developer Mojang, received three trophies: best debut, downloadable game and the innovation award. “Minecraft” also picked up the fan-favorite audience award and Seumas McNally grand prize earlier in the evening at the 13th annual Independent Games Festival Awards, which exclusively honors indie games.

Selected by a jury of game creators, the Game Developers Choice honor the best games of the past year. Other winners at the Moscone Convention Center ceremony included ZeptoLab’s physics puzzler “Cut the Rope” for best handheld game, BioWare’s sci-fi saga sequel “Mass Effect 2” for best writing and Playdead’s dark side-scroller “Limbo” for best visual design.

“Out Run” and “Virtua Fighter” designer Yu Suzuki won the pioneer award, while conference associate program mangers Tim Brengle and Ian MacKenzie were given with the ambassador award, which recognizes individuals who have helped advanced the gaming industry. Lionhead Studios founder Peter Molyneux was honored with the lifetime achievement award.

“I’m so unbelievably humbled by this award,” said Molyneux, the “Fable” series mastermind and creative director of Microsoft Game Studios Europe. “I’ve been coming here since it was in a really small hall. I can remember the first time I stood in the back of the room and thought, ‘Jesus, these people are so many more times smarter than I ever will be.”’